Today marks three years since the official opening of The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.
Despite the challenges especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, our campus has endeavored to bring access to high quality University education to Antigua and Barbuda as well as the wider OECS region.
As we reflect on our successes over the last three years, we are ready to welcome all our students to the campus (for face to face classes) and help mold better citizens for Antigua and Barbuda, the wider Caribbean and the world.
Thank you for your support over the last 3 years and we look forward to continuing shining as “A Light from the West”
#TheUWI #UWIFIC #AntiguaandBarbuda #OECS #CreatingOpportunities
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The wagon rolled on.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched Of The Earth!
Give Praise and Thanks! “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” – Albert Einstein!
The Principal of UWI Five Islands lamented the lack of credentialed professionals not only in Antigua and Barbuda but also the OECS and posited that this had hampered these Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from closing the economic, technology and capacity gap with the larger States of Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago! Of that GB, HL, JM and VBIII would concede!
“Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it
is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn’t fit in with the core belief.” ― Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks!
GoAB should, encourage the other OECS Governments to, engage in Strategic Thinking where The OECS takes priority over insular Higher Educational strategies, to genuinely consider free Higher Education at UWI Five Islands Campus for their Nationals to close the Credentials Gap which the Principal and others have identified! UWI Five Islands Campus together with the OECS Governments and Business partners must see that as a Strategic Imperative with an attendant rapid development of Residential Facilities where accommodations for off island students are subsidized! A transportation system should also be created and developed to logistically serve the UWI FI Campus, Open University, ASC, ABIIT & ABHTI!
Those who have followed JFII on the glorious development of the UWI Five Islands Campus, for the OECS advancement, know that he has been relentless in the suggestion for the students to achieve and the OECS to close the Higher Education Gap quickly, they must be motivated and encouraged to engage in a creative and inspiring environment where they can study and labour in economic freedom unfettered by the chains of scarcity and poverty!
UWI Five Islands Campus Planning and Development requires the inclusion of OECS students whose rich diversity in socio-cultural values will bring an unprecedented number of socio-economic students into Higher Education! Expanding access and providing degree and credentialed pathways for lower income students must be, not only a National but OECS Strategic Priority! Not only will the OECS students bring a rich diversity that articulates and defines their country, but they will provide a long lasting culture of OECS Understanding and Cooperation and for a wider Pan Caribbean and Pan African engagement!
“A society’s competitive advantage will come not from how well its schools teach the multiplication and periodic tables, but from how well they stimulate imagination and creativity.” Albert Einstein!
UWI Five Islands should transform its approach to individual scholarship to one that is driven by a collaborative Team directed approach at all areas of student engagement and study! That will be a tall order given the existing pedagogy both at the OECS Secondary Education and UWI practice! GoAB and the other Governments in collaboration with UWI Five Islands Campus, Business other publics must bring about this Higher Education Evolution and Transformation given the changing realities of Caribbean Values towards building a Caribbean Civilization for the People of African Descent in this the International Decade for People of African Descent 2015 – 2024, the 21st Century and Globalization! This mere voice in the wilderness knows that students not only select Higher Education Institutions on their relative statistical position amongst peer institutions position but more so on their VALUES!
The Pandemic and a host of poor economic conditions not only in the OECS, but in CARICOM and the World have increased the threats to Higher Education Institutions! With declining public resources, and all sectors of society claiming those scarce resources, and some beliefs not only in Governments and Business that the University and Tertiary Education for that matter must contribute directly to the economy, the Transformation that is being suggested will be dismissed by the “Doubting Thomases,” “Pu$illanimous Pu$$yfooters” and “Hysterical Hypochondriacs of History!”
What was seen, heard and possibly still exists in some enclaves on the Rock and some societal divides in the OECS is a complex attitude of fear and hope with a great deal of distrust given the party tribalism and seeing the first appointed Board Chair being from the Monied and White Monopoly Capital Class who have captured and silently control many Caribbean Institutions! The fear come from knowing that Higher Education knowledge is the gateway to a middle-class standard of living and that the cost is much more than many People of African Descent in the OECS can comfortably afford whereas they are filled with hope that when they have graduated and are credentialed, they will enter into the kingdom of success and gleefully enjoy relative material comforts of the Caribbean Paradise, “where the beach is just the beginning!”
“The basic confrontation which seemed to be colonialism versus anti-colonialism, indeed capitalism versus socialism, is already losing its importance. What matters today, the issue which blocks the horizon, is the need for a redistribution of wealth. Humanity will have to address this question, no matter how devastating the consequences may be.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
Upward, Onward and Forward with the “Light Rising From the West”!
Have we been told the $ amount contracted from A&B Govt. to the UWI landed campus… year-on-year?
Have we been told the hard economic benefits of the annual investment in the UWI landed campus?
Curious why the UWI has been given permission to build Halls of Residence, when the government has touted for years, a big benefit of tertiary education businesses in Antigua in addition to local scholarships and opportunities for teaching & wellness employment; is the wide dollar spend to independent landlords & contractors who keep the accommodations working smoothly, small businesses, second-hand car dealers, gas stations, restaurants, roadside vendors, supermarkets, medical practioners etc.
If Residences & Food Courts open on campus, they are additional revenue streams for the institution, (UWI) and the dollar spend to all the listed Antiguan based beneficiaries above becomes ‘tiny cruise tourist $’ size in comparison.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “O my body, make of me always a man who questions!” ― Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks!
The answer to you first question can be found in numerous local, government and UWI publications!
Higher Education Research and Literature is replete with the economic value and community benefits that Universities and Community Colleges add to any society where they are located!
To continue to wallow in the doldrums is not productive to “Town and Gown” development and advancement! “Come, then, comrades; it would be as well to decide at once to change our ways. We must shake off the heavy darkness in which we were plunged, and leave it behind. The new day which is already at hand must find us firm, prudent and resolute. We must leave our dreams and abandon our old beliefs and friendships of the time before life began. Let us waste no time in sterile litanies and nauseating mimicry.” – Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
Upward, Onward and Forward with “Light Rising From the West”!
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched Of The Earth!
Give Praise and Thanks! “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” – Albert Einstein!
The Principal of UWI Five Islands lamented the lack of credentialed professionals not only in Antigua and Barbuda but also the OECS and posited that this had hampered these Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from closing the economic, technology and capacity gap with the larger States of Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago! Of that GB, HL, JM and VBIII would concede!
“Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it
is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn’t fit in with the core belief.” ― Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks!
GoAB should encourage the other OECS Governments to engage in Strategic Thinking where The OECS takes priority over insular Higher Educational strategies, to genuinely consider free Higher Education at UWI Five Islands Campus for their Nationals to close the Credentials Gap which the Principal and others have identified! UWI Five Islands Campus together with the OECS Governments and Business partners must see that as a Strategic Imperative with an attendant rapid development of Residential Facilities where accommodations for off island students are subsidized! A transportation system should also be created and developed to logistically serve the UWI FI Campus, Open University, ASC, ABIIT & ABHTI!
Those who have followed JFII on the glorious development of the UWI Five Islands Campus, for the OECS advancement, know that he has been relentless in the suggestion for the students to achieve and the OECS to close the Higher Education Gap quickly, they must be motivated and encouraged to engage in a creative and inspiring environment where they can study and labour in economic freedom unfettered by the chains of scarcity and poverty!
UWI Five Islands Campus Planning and Development requires the inclusion of OECS students whose rich diversity in socio-cultural values will bring an unprecedented number of socio-economic students into Higher Education! Expanding access and providing degree and credentialed pathways for lower income students must be, not only a National but OECS Strategic Priority! Not only will the OECS students bring a rich diversity that articulates and defines their country, but they will provide a long lasting culture of OECS Understanding and Cooperation and for a wider Pan Caribbean and Pan African engagement!
“A society’s competitive advantage will come not from how well its schools teach the multiplication and periodic tables, but from how well they stimulate imagination and creativity.” Albert Einstein!
Upward, Onward and Forward with the “Light Rising From the West”!
Wow! Time flies. Congrats UWI FIVE ISLANDS CAMPUS and kudos to the GASTON BROWNE Administration 🇦🇬
Indeed, time flies. Kudos once again to the man with the vision for this country. And to UWI for believing in this vision and taking the step to make it a reality.
A national treasure for many years to come.
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